“It's improved my life 100 per cent” For builder Tom Saunders, noisy environments are part and parcel of a typical day on the job. “It can be pretty loud working in construction,” said Tom. “Amongst all that noise I’d noticed my hearing wasn’t great, but most of my friends also have hearing loss so everyone’s in the same boat. When we’re having a beer together, you’ve got to say something 20 times before all of us get what’s being said.” Determined to see what options were available for his hearing loss, Tom headed to a nearby audiology clinic and was shocked at the abruptness of the experience. “I went to a hearing centre in town and they gave me a quick test, and then asked if I would like hearing aids. Not only did I balk at the price, I was also left confused at what type of device I actually needed and why,” said Tom. A chance conversation with a friend who works at Hear and Say in Ashgrove led Tom to book an appointment, and he said he hadn’t turned back since.
“The difference between the two places was incomparable. I’m just so thankful to Hear and Say for the opportunity to fix my hearing, otherwise it wouldn’t have been sorted and I’d still be missing out on so much. It’s improved my life 100 per cent,” said Tom. “I remember what initially got me really keen on getting my hearing sorted was meeting one of my friend’s young daughters. We were driving in the car and she was talking away in the backseat to me – but I couldn’t hear her. I wasn’t responding, so her mum had to say, ‘Oh don’t worry, Tom’s just a little deaf.’ “That made me feel horrible, and it was a real wakeup call to what I’d been missing all these years. Now we can have a great conversation, with no repetitions needed!”
Established almost 30 years ago, Hear and Say now offers services for people of all ages, providing unbiased, individually tailored advice, independent from all hearing device manufacturers. Their unique model providing for services for adults also supports Hear and Say’s charity work with children. To book a hearing test or for further information, call 07 3850 2111 or visit hearandsay.com.au.
Live Life to Your Full Potential
Trouble hearing in noisy places? Asking people to repeat themselves? TV volume is always up? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Every second person knows someone with hearing loss. We’re here to help, for people of all ages.
07 3850 2111 hearandsay.com.au
Book a complimentary hearing screen today. Offer valid until 30 June 2021.
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
The Western Echo May 2021 Page 17
